Claressa Shields entered the ring at her heaviest preventing weight and left with the quickest win of her profession.
The self-proclaimed GWOAT (Best Lady of All Time) gained her fourth divisional with a second-round, technical knockout of Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse. Three knockdowns pressured a stoppage at 1:09 of spherical two Saturday at Little Caesars Area in Detroit, Michigan.
With the win, Shields claimed the WBC heavyweight (although technically mild heavyweight) and WBO 175-pound titles within the DAZN predominant occasion. She is now a four-division champ after a stellar beginner profession the place she gained back-to-back Olympic Gold medals.
“I shocked myself, I’m not gonna lie,” Shields informed DAZN’s Al Bernstein.
Shields (15-0, 3 knockouts) hadn’t loved a knockout end in seven years, nearly to the day. Her final one got here in her first title win, an Aug. 2017 5th spherical stoppage of Nikki Adler additionally in Detroit. Shields gained the WBC and IBF tremendous middleweight titles that night to start her pound-for-pound run.
Championship wins adopted at middleweight, junior middleweight and again to middleweight. Shields absolutely unified the divisions (twice at 160) however has already run out of challenges at these weights. Proof of that was in her inactive stretch of practically 14 months.
With that got here the choice to climb additional up the size.
Lepage-Joanisse (7-2, 2 KOs) tried the primary protection of the title she gained earlier this 12 months. The 29-year-old Quebec native edged Abril Argentina Vidal (10-2, 4 KOs) by way of break up choice on March 7 in Montreal. It was her fourth straight win following a stoppage defeat to Alejandra Jimenez of their Aug. 2017 WBC heavyweight title battle.
Shields proceeded with warning within the opening spherical. Primarily a boxer (and a gifted one at that), the intent was to really feel out the naturally heavier Lepage-Joanisse and check her personal energy in a brand new weight.
The returns had been a nice shock.
“I went in there actual gradual within the first spherical,” acknowledged Shields, who was a profession heaviest 174.8 kilos. “I’m no dummy. Vanessa is a heavyweight and she or he was punching.
“When the hook hit her, I used to be like rattling. I knew I used to be robust in camp and I used to be tremendous robust [on Saturday]. Perhaps I can keep at heavyweight.”
Lepage-Joanisse was visibly rocked close to the tip of the primary spherical. Shields saved throwing punches till the bell. Regardless of the defending titlist remaining on her toes, the arrogance was there that the stoppage was on its method.
Shields delivered in a giant method.
A clear proper hand floored Lepage-Joanisse early within the second spherical. Referee Ben Rodriguez issued a rely whereas Lepage-Joanisse’s nook appeared able to cease the battle. Shields was summoned to proceed and despatched her down twice extra earlier than the battle was delivered to a halt.
“I suppose the ref needed me to throw yet another proper hand to place her down,” famous Shields. “The GWOAT stays.”
The query now could be whether or not Shields will keep at this weight.
The battle was billed as a heavyweight title battle, solely due to how the WBC manufacturers something above 168 kilos. Shields believes she will be able to nonetheless battle as little as 154 for the best alternative, or again to 160 the place she stays the undisputed champion.
The sensation of not having to chop weight additionally has her contemplating a future in her most not too long ago conquered division.
“I’m the money cow, the women who received the belts at 168 gotta come as much as battle me,” insisted Shields. “It’s simply 175. It wouldn’t be that massive of a leap.”
Shields is now 12-0 (2 KOs) in title battle spanning 4 weight division and The Ring’s reigning pound-for-pound queen.
